The Key ( #1 Anna Kippling Series) YA Paranormal Romance / Epic Fantasy

by A. D. Duling

  “When I say go, we go!” Hayden whispered to them. The girls nodded and readied themselves. “Go!” he whispered and they ran out and charged the unsuspecting guards.

  Hayden took down the guard on the right, sending his sword through the man’s chest. Anna reached the other guard before Val and swung her sword at him, striking him in the neck. She watched in horror as the man reached up and grabbed at his neck, blood sputtering out as he fell to the floor. Anna raised her sword and plunged it through his heart, to end his suffering. His eyes went wide and then relaxed; nothing living stared out from them anymore.

  Reality quickly swarmed in and Anna froze in place as she stared down at the dead man. Hayden walked up behind her and turned Anna to face him, “In moments like this Anna, you have to remind yourself if you had not killed him first, he would have killed you,” he said gently. Anna nodded and watched quietly as Hayden bent down and closed the dead man’s eyes. He then slid him out of the way of the door and pressed his ear against it, to listen.

  “It’s quiet,” said Hayden as his hand grabbed the knob, “Be ready.” Hayden’s voice remained calm as he turned it. He then jerked the door open and jumped back, ready for an attack. An empty stairway waited for them on the other side.

  “How could they think this wouldn’t look suspicious to us?” Anna whispered to him and he shrugged.

  “Maybe they’re stupid,” Val whispered.

  “Or clever…” Hayden followed as the trio quietly climbed up the steps towards the door waiting at the top. Hayden pressed his ear against that one and listened again, “It’s quite in there,” he whispered to them, then paused in a thought and they waited, “Be ready,” he whispered and Anna immediately clenched tightly onto her sword handle, knowing what his thoughts were.

  When Hayden reached up and knocked on the door, Anna knew what they were going to do. It remained quiet on the other side and he knocked again. This time there came the movement Hayden had wanted; they waited quietly as soft footsteps approached the door and the doorknob began to turn. Slowly it turned as the person on the other side took caution, but Hayden was no longer cautious and as soon as the door opened a crack, Hayden kicked the door open and charged inside.

  He took the man down on the other side as soon as he entered and did not stop there. Anna could hear him in conflict with another as she and Val charged into the room after him. For Anna, even with the light from the corridor, the room was still too dark for her to see anything. Darting silhouettes was all that she could decipher in the darkness and just as her eyes began to adjust, a light came on and blinded her again.

  Anna could hear Hayden wrestling with someone just to her right and heard Val scream off to her left; as she blinked to adjust her eyes. A figure came into her view and Anna sent her sword into his chest as he reached her. He gave a grunt and then fell to the floor. Anna raised her sword again as ten other figures came into her view, ready to defend herself, but before she could, something hard hit her on the back of the head and everything went dark.

  Chapter Thirty Three

  A splash of cold water brought Anna back to consciousness and she slowly opened her eyes and sat up. Her head ached and when she went to rub it, something stopped her arm and Anna found herself shackled to the wall behind her. Memories of what had happened flooded her and Anna bolted up and looked around herself.

  “Welcome back, Anna,” A voice spoke to her and she looked to the source. A few yards away from her, Anna found Hayden unconscious and lying chained to a table with a very angry Chancellor standing above his head. He motioned to his left where then a masked guard roughly pulled Val over to him.

  “I told you Anna Kippling that I was going to make you suffer every minute until your death!” he venomously spat at her, “And now because of what you did to me, I’m going to make sure both your friends here suffers as well!” the Chancellor promised her and yanked Val over to him.

  A dagger was in his other hand and he held it up for Anna to see, before he forced it into the open palm of Val’s hand, “Grab a hold of it!” he screamed to her and Val gripped the handle. The Chancellor grabbed Val by the chin and forced her look into his eyes. They began to glow, giving off a neon green light that lit up the whites of his eyeballs, “I want you to look me in the eyes, girl!” he hissed at her, but Val scrunched her eyes shut tight, in resistance.

  The Chancellor gave another nod and the guard walked over and jabbed a knife against Val’s ribs. Val screamed, but kept her eyes shut still. “Open your eyes and look at me!” he screamed at her, but the woman shook her head and kept resisting. The guard jabbed the knife in a little deeper and Val screamed again and her eyes popped opened.

  The Chancellor’s hypnotic eyes looked into hers and Anna watched helplessly as the fight went out of her friend and Val became submissive. “You will take the dagger and plunge it into his heart,” He coldly ordered her and Val’s hand clench tighter around the handle of the dagger and she turned towards Hayden.

  “Val, don’t do it!” Anna yelled to her, but her friend’s blank eyes only stayed on the body beneath her; oblivious to anything around her.

  Anna went to run over to them, but the forgotten chains of her shackles yanked her back to the wall and she clunked the back of her head against it. Ignoring the pain, Anna watched in horror as Val brought the dagger up above Hayden’s chest. “No…! Val, don’t do it!” Anna screamed to stop her friend, “You have to fight it!” Anna cried.

  Beneath Val’s raised dagger, Hayden moaned and looked around. His eyes spotted the dagger above him and his eyes darted to Val.

  “Val!” Anna screamed as the girl raised the dagger higher up, ready to stab him. Suddenly the door next to Anna flew open and another masked guard ran in. When he spotted Anna, he quickly ran over and grabbed her shackled hands with his gloved ones and unlocked them.

  As soon as Anna was free, her hand snatched at her pendant necklace and she screamed, “Conceal me!” and disappeared right after.

  “Get him!” The chancellor yelled to his guard and then quickly snatched the dagger out of Val’s hand. He pushed her roughly aside and sent Val falling to the floor. The Chancellor held the dagger over Hayden’s chest and his eyes darted around the room for her, “Show yourself Anna or your friend here dies!” He threatened her, looking for a sign of her.

  “Don’t do it, Anna!” Hayden yelled out to her, “He’ll still kill me!”

  “Show me where you are girl!” The Chancellor yelled again as the seconds passed and she had not. He lowered the dagger closer to Hayden’s chest and the young man closed his eyes, ready for death, “You have one second to show yourself or he’s dead!” the hysterical man screamed and raised his dagger up.

  “Don’t do it, Anna!” Hayden yelled, breathing heavy, keeping his eyes shut.

  “Reveal me!” Anna’s voice cried out and she appeared to him a few feet away.

  The Chancellor grinned, “There you are,” he said coldly and thrust the dagger deep into Hayden’s chest, where his heart lay.

  Chapter Thirty Four

  Anna screamed and grabbed for her dagger. She charged at him, ready to strike, but then Val came in front of her and leapt at him. She wrestled him to the ground, screaming and clawing at the man. Anna heard a growl off to her right and turned in time to see his guard charging her, but didn’t get far, as the masked guard that had helped her, leapt at him and sank his sword into the man’s back. The man crumbled to the floor, a foot away from her and died.

  Anna looked back to Hayden, lying lifeless on the table a few feet away from her with the dagger still protruding from his chest. She could see his steel grey eyes staring straight into the heavens above him and new he was gone. The book had predicted his death, but it had not played out as Anna had wanted it. She had failed; she had failed her dear sweet Hayden. She was supposed to give her life for his, like the book had said too and Anna had failed him. Why did this happen? She thought. What did she do wrong?

  The questions
swarmed her mind as Anna stood and stared down at the man she loved. She did love him; she truly loved Hayden and only realized that now after she had lost him. A realization her dear Hayden would never know. Why is it people only realize their love for another when they lose them? Anna thought and hated herself. Anna hated herself because she had let him die, not knowing that. Not knowing that she loved him.

  It didn’t really matter now what Anna could have done differently, Hayden was dead and nothing would bring him back. Anna mourned him in her mind and touched his cheek. Her grandmother’s bracelet, the one a little too large for her wrist; the one that could turn back time, slid down Anna’s wrist and she remembered it. Anna’s fingers quickly went to the stone and rubbed it.

  “Give me time!” Anna spoke the words and instantly everything around her paused in motion for a slight of a second and then started rewinding backwards before her eyes. Anna knew she only had a few seconds to react and quickly ran over to where the Chancellor had once stood and waited for her moment. She watched as the figures acted around her, going back to their places of a few minutes before. She watched as the Chancellor came back to his place above Hayden and watched as his hand returned to the handle of the dagger in Hayden’s chest and then pulled up from it.

  His hand then began to slow in its rise as her gifted minutes came to the promised fifth one and Anna quickly moved into her position. It slowed to just where the Chancellor held it above him, ready to plunge and then stopped. Time now resumed.

  This time as his dagger came down; it plunged into the back of Anna, who now lay as a shield over Hayden. She grunted under the thrust and her eyes looked to Hayden’s. She watched as his mouth opened in a scream, but did not hear it. She could feel his body tense beneath hers, but did not hear the words that passed through his lips again. His eyes reflected his horror and the grief that overwhelmed him was seen by her as he watched in helplessness.

  Anna gasped; the pain now had come to her and was unbearable. The Chancellor behind her leaned back stunned and she felt the dagger pull out with him. Without hesitation, Anna turned around and snatched the dagger from his hand. With one hard thrust, she sent it plunging deep into his chest. His eyes widened at the blow and he staggered back, away from her.

  “Anna!” Val screamed from behind her, but Anna did not hear her.

  “Unlock these!” Hayden yelled to Val and the masked guard ran over and quickly undid the ones around his wrists. Hayden sat up, just as Anna turned back around to him and his hands gently took her by the waist and pulled her to him.

  “Anna…” she watched his mouth say her name and Anna smiled at him.

  Anna went to take a breath, but it brought a cough and blood came past her lips. The guard quickly freed Hayden’s legs and he pulled her up into his arms as he climbed down. He sat down on the ground below and cradled her gently in his arms. Val’s face appeared before Anna and she felt something warm grab her hand.

  “Anna…” she watched Hayden mouth her name again as his eyes pleaded with hers. The masked stranger walked over and pulled his mask off, revealing to her a woman. “It’s the Empress, Anna. You saved her,” Hayden said to her, but his voice fell on deaf ears.

  Her eyes never left his as the tears fell down her cheeks and she gasped in her final breaths. “I love you, Anna,” She watched him mouth as he cried.

  “Wait! The beads…Hayden, they can help her!” Val yelled to him and quickly started fishing through Anna’s pockets for them, but Hayden’s hand grabbed hers just as she pulled the satchel out and Val looked up at him.

  “She’s gone Val,” said Hayden, his voice cracked as he did. Val looked over at her friend’s face and found her eyes now closed.

  “No!” she cried out and slapped his hand away, “These can save her…They saved me!” She proclaimed and emptied the beads out onto Anna’s still chest. Val grabbed a few of the beads and began stuffing them into Anna’s mouth. “It took only one to cure me,” Val said, as she stuffed in more, one by one, “Think about what a few more could do!” she spoke hysterical and kept stuffing them in until the final bead. Val then closed Anna’s mouth, “They need to melt, and then they’ll work,” She assured him and they waited.

  They waited in mournful silence for something to happen, but nothing did and minutes continued to pass.

  “Any minute now,” she assured him, “you’ll see!” Val cried as she rocked herself, “Any minute now….” Val repeated herself and looked up at him. Tears streamed down Hayden’s cheeks as he accepted the loss and mourned, “Maybe we need a little more time….” Val tried to convince him as Hayden reached up and gently touched her cheek.

  Val sagged in defeat at his comforting touch and looked down to her friend, who remained still. She dropped her head onto Anna’s chest and sobbed, finally allowing herself to mourn.

  The love, the friend and the Empress gathered closely around their Anna Kippling and mourned their fallen hero, the one who had saved them all.

  Chapter Thirty Five

  The journey home was traveled in a mournful state. Word had already spread through the lands of the Chancellor’s defeat and of the death of Anna Kippling. As they had passed by Heron earlier in the day, its flags had hung respectfully from the walls of their city in respect to her. Its large wooden doors stood open allowing its citizens to stand by the road to pay their respects as they traveled past. A head councilman on his horse joined them from there and escorted them home.

  Later that evening, as they neared Tatania’s walls; Hayden could see their own councilmen sitting upon their horses just outside the gates; waiting for them. His father was among them. Harmon rode up to his son and stayed next to him as they rode towards the city entrance, “We would like to take her to our home and make the preparations there.” He told his son and Hayden nodded.

  They rode in silence after that, passing through the gates and riding down along the city street, lined with mournful citizens, watching as they passed. Taking turns to pay respect to their fallen hero laying inside the guided the wagon as they passed by. Flowers were thrown on top of the blanket that covered Anna and tears fell for her as they continued on

  When they reached the house, Corrine and Anna’s great grandparents were already outside waiting. Hayden climbed down from Thunder and walked over to the back of the wagon. He lowered the gate and gently scooped Anna’s tiny frame into his arms. He carried her body up to the bedroom that had recently been hers and gently laid her down onto the bed. Corrine came in after and hugged him. Hayden sank into her embrace and sobbed. Corinne held her son and rubbed his back, until he calmed and then gently guided him over to the nearby chair for him sit down in.

  Hayden’s eyes were sunk in and he was a mess. A slight of a beard lined his jawline, showing how long he had gone without shaving. He was still wearing the blood covered shirt from the days before; stained with his and Anna’s blood.

  “You need to eat something and clean up,” Corrine gently told him, “she would not want you going around like this.” Hayden didn’t respond. Corrine walked over to the bed and delicately pulled back the blanket from off the young woman’s head and looked at her. She reached down and gently stroked Anna’s head; pushing back a few loose strands of her hair back into their place. Anna was a mess as well.

  “Her skin still feels warm,” she told her son, surprised.

  “Mother-” he went, but Corrine shook her head.

  “She really does look like she’s only sleeping,” She went, ignoring him. Corinne leaned down and kissed Anna’s forehead, “If only it were true…” She gently stroked Anna’s cheek, “Goodnight my sweet girl,” Corrine whispered to her and kissed Anna’s cheek. Hayden stood up and walked over to his mother, who now turned to him for the comfort, “If only we had an answer on how we could have saved her!” She sobbed to him.

  “I know mother…” Hayden consoled her.

  Corrine reached up and rubbed her son’s cheek, “I’ll let you have some time alone with her,” She s
aid, “but not long, you really should clean up… for the visitors,” She reminded him and he nodded. “Her grandparents want to see her, but I think I should put something pretty on Anna first.” She commented, indicating to the condition of the girl’s clothing.

  Hayden nodded and Corrine hugged him again, “Come downstairs after you’ve washed, you need to eat,” she said to her son and Hayden nodded again.

  Hayden stood and watched his mother walked to the door. She gave another look back at him and then Anna before she stepped out and closed the door behind her. As soon as he heard her step away, Hayden bolted over to Anna and pulled the blanket off of her. He fished into her pockets, looking for her book. As soon as his fingers touched the leather cover of it inside her jacket pocket, Hayden pulled it out and opened it.

  “How can I bring Anna back?” he asked it, but no words formed and the pages remained blank. Hayden flipped to another page, “How can I bring her back!” he asked it again, his voice raised a little. The book did not answer him, it did only answered to one.